Belgium Updated Salary Rules for Work and Single Permits for Non-EEA Applicants in 2026

If you are a skilled worker planning to move to Belgium in 2026, this is one immigration update you cannot ignore.

Belgium has officially announced its new minimum salary thresholds for work permits and single permits, and these figures will directly decide whether non-EU professionals can legally work in the country this year.

In a major policy update released on 26 January 2026, Belgium’s three regions — Brussels, Wallonia, and Flanders — confirmed updated salary criteria that every international applicant must meet before their work authorization can be approved.

For global talent, this is not just paperwork. It is a financial line that determines whether your visa application survives or gets rejected.

Why Skilled Workers Should Take This Update Seriously?

Belgium’s work visa system is salary-based. That means even if you have:

• A strong academic background
• A high-demand occupation
• An employer ready to hire you
• A complete visa file

Your application can still fail if your salary offer is below the required minimum threshold.

In 2026, Belgium is reinforcing a clear rule:

No salary compliance = no permit approval.

This matters especially for:

• Engineers, IT specialists, and healthcare professionals
• EU Blue Card applicants
• Intra-company transferees relocating from abroad
• Young professionals under 30 entering Belgium’s labor market
• Skilled workers applying through bottleneck professions.

Belgium’s Regions Now Apply Different Salary Rules in 2026

One of the most important things global applicants must understand is that Belgium does not have one national salary threshold.

The minimum salary requirement depends entirely on where your job is located:

• Brussels Region: Brussels will continue using the same monthly salary levels as 2025, meaning thresholds remain unchanged.
• Wallonia (Walloon Region): Wallonia has officially published new annual gross salary requirements for 2026, updated upward.
• Flanders (Flemish Region): Flanders will temporarily continue applying 2025 annual salary norms until Belgium’s statistical office (Statbel) releases the new wage standard. Once published, Flanders is expected to update salaries within one month.

Minimum Salary Thresholds Skilled Workers Must Meet in Belgium (2026)

Here are the updated salary benchmarks that international applicants must meet to qualify for work and single permits:

*Flanders thresholds remain based on 2025 norms until Statbel updates wage standards (Ref).

Special Alert for Young Skilled Workers Under 30

If you are applying as a highly skilled worker under 30, Belgium provides a lower salary threshold — but only under strict conditions.

For example, in Flanders, workers under 30 on a local contract must meet: €39,129.60 annually

However, once you turn 30, a higher salary requirement applies immediately.

This is critical for early-career professionals relocating in 2026.

EU Blue Card Applicants: Belgium Remains Attractive — But Salary Still Comes First!

Belgium continues to be a major destination for EU Blue Card holders, but the salary bar remains high. The minimum threshold for EU Blue Card applicants in 2026 includes:

• €4,748/month in Brussels
• €68,815/year in Wallonia
• €55,052/year in Flanders

Belgium also recognizes junior applicants with less than three years of experience, with a reference salary figure near: €63,586 annually.

What Happens If Your Salary Offer Is Below the Threshold?

This is where the situation becomes serious.

If your employment contract does not meet the minimum salary criteria:

• Your work permit or single permit may be refused
• Your employer may be forced to revise the contract
• Processing delays can cost months
• Employers face legal penalties in cases of illegal employment

Belgium has warned that non-compliance may trigger:

• Administrative fines
• Penal sanctions
• Back payment of taxes and social security
• Even possible prison sentences in severe cases

For skilled workers, this means one thing:

Do not accept an offer without checking the immigration salary threshold first.

What Skilled Workers Should Do Right Now (2026 Action Steps)?

If you are planning to work in Belgium this year, here is what you should do immediately:

• Confirm which Belgian region your job is based in
• Ask your employer for the gross salary breakdown
• Compare your offer against the official 2026 thresholds
• Watch for upcoming Statbel updates (especially for Flanders)
• Ensure your contract meets permit salary rules before submission

This one step can protect you from rejection and costly delays.

Final Takeaway: Belgium Work Visas in 2026 Are Now Salary-Gated

Belgium remains one of Europe’s strongest hubs for international professionals, offering pathways through:

• Highly Skilled Work Permits
• EU Blue Cards
• Intra-company transfers
• Bottleneck occupation routes

But in 2026, the immigration system is sending a sharp message: Your visa approval depends not only on your skills — but on whether your salary meets the regional legal minimum.

For global workers, this update is a must-check before signing any Belgian contract.

References

• https://emploi.wallonie.be/home/actualites/actualites/autorisations-de-travail-et-permis-de-travail-b–seuils-salariaux-a-respecter-par-les-employeurs.html%202
• https://emploi.belgique.be/fr/propos-du-spf/infractions/cheminement-dun-proces-verbal/poursuites-penales.